Needless to say, Berber carpets are elegant and improve a home’s interior appeal. They are long-lasting and stain-resistant as long as you treat them well. Even with that, cleaning will be needed at some point and you should be well equipped with dos and don’ts to avoid damaging it. 

There are several methods, some are better than others. In this article, I tried to look at it in detail, narrowing down my techniques to the most effective one. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive into this!

Understanding Your Berber Carpet 

You should understand a few factors before cleaning your Berber carpet. This will help you determine the right cleaning approach, or if it’s even necessary. 

Condition Of the Carpet

The first thing to look at is whether the carpet is actually dirty or damaged. Maybe the loops are smashed or flatten down due to heavy traffic. 

The reflecting lights can make them look dirty when they’re not. Instead of wasting time cleaning consider replacing it if this happens around areas of your carpet. Obviously damaged carpet will not be fixed  with cleaning.

Tight Wave 

Berber carpets have thick waves regardless of the fabric type they come with. This unique structure causes them retain water leading up to two difficulties.

The first one involves using too much water and the second one is called “Wicking”-Excessive water won’t dry as soon  as you may expect and encourages mildew. 

Wicking happens when the oil residue remains within the fibers. Initially, the carpet looks cleaner but as it gets drier the oil starts to collect dirt again. Dry cleaning could prevent this. However, a few repetitions may be required for filthier spots.

Type Of Fiber

Olefin/polyester is a notorious and economical fiber as they repellent water and stain quite often. Unfortunately, they tend to draw oil from various sources like your skin, shoes, and kitchen. This makes them difficult to clean. Steam cleaning can be effective but leaving this to a professional is safer to avoid any damage. 

Nylon carpet on the other hand lacks water-resistant capabilities but comparatively are easier to clean. Dry cleaning can be a simple DIY solution in this instance. 

Preventing Berber Carpet From Getting Dirty 

Have you ever asked yourself, ‘Why is my Berber getting dirty every now and then? Am I doing enough to prevent this in the first place?’

Prevention makes a big difference in the life of your carpet.

Oil is a significant concern. Putting a mat at the entrance will save your life! 

Other than this, the best practice is to vacuum clean the Berber carpet regularly, even when it looks spotless. 

This saves a lot of hassle as vacuum cleaning prevents dirt from grinding into the Berber. Deep-standing grime is hard to clean and the biggest headache even for a professional. 

Then the question arises, how to choose the best vacuum that won’t impair the look or condition of a Berber carpet. Check out this article to learn everything that goes into the topic.

In short, don’t go for a vacuum with a rotating brush/beater bar attachments as they can tear the loops. Instead, a vacuum with high suction capacity and without the brush is the best option to try. 

Vacuum clean thoroughly with steady and slow movement is key to prevent negative impacts on the texture/weave of the carpet. 

Lastly keep food, shoes and pets off your carpet if you want to prevent stains and wear.

How to Clean Berber Carpet: The Best Method

Always check an inconspicuous small spot of carpet with any new cleaners or treatments. That way if your carpet reacts poorly or the product causes a stain or damage it will be contained to a small hidden area. Always tests new products in a small hidden area before doing larger spots.

Even with precaution in place, it’s not uncommon to have food spills or pet incidents on your Berber. And, time is always crucial here because the earlier you start spot treatment and set up your toolbox the easier it is to clean. 

• Read your manufacturer manual first and find specific information about cleaning your carpet 
• Gather your vacuum and keep baking soda and a towel in hand
• Now sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the stain and wait for a minute. Baking soda will continue to absorb the wetness 
• Don’t rub/scrub clean during this time because it may sink the stain into the carpet
• Run your vacuum on the spot and the surrounding areas. Repeat the process until baking soda stops soaking up the liquid (the ball of power can’t be seen)
• It’s important that your vacuum has high airflow to eliminate the filtrate successfully 
• Finally, blot your towel on the surface and remove extra moisture if you think necessary

In case you didn’t take the earlier step to absorb the spill, a stain is likely to arise and you need a different remedy to get rid of this. Most of the time, using a professional stain cleaner will do the trick. If you’re looking for a homemade solution then mixing up the vinegar with water (in 1 to 5 ratio)is a good alternative. 

However, there is a small threat of damaging your carpet to some extent and that’s why you should never use more than just enough of it. You should let the stain dry until it looks brighter than the rest of the area. 

If you are skeptical or want to take the risk-free route, call a professional to accomplish the task. With minimal risk of wicking and mildew, a professional ensures your carpet is deeply cleaned.

Final Words 

Hopefully, the tips we’ve shared today are useful in knowing the best way to clean Berber carpet. Once again, remember to vacuum clean every single day instead of damaging the fabric by rubbing with too much water or liquid cleaner to remove the stains frequently. And, that’s how you keep your Berber elegant for years to come.